Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim: Fighting Sectarianism and Extremism and Updating the Religious Rhetoric Are Fundamental Priorities for Conveying the Right Islamic Ideas

During a visit to the residence of the Union of Muslim Scholars in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in Erbil headed by Sheikh Abdullah Saeed Kartaki Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Superior Council of Iraq, asserted that fighting sectarianism and extremism and updating the religious rhetoric are fundamental priorities for conveying the right Islamic ideas. He explained that the intercommunication between religious scholars has great effect on the global cultural and social reality and creates grounds for rapprochement and national and Islamic unity.

His Eminence said the religious scholars has been united by the great Islam and their loyalty to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Household (AS) and the chosen Companions. He added that Islam has been fiercely attacked, and such challenges should be faced with unity. He explained that since the Iraqi society is a young one, it is necessary to update the rhetoric techniques so that they can adapt to the scientific and technological advancement. According to him, the fact that mosques attract mainly old people is something the mosques are to be blamed for, and the rhetoric techniques must be updated in order to the lure the youth, because religious fundamentals cannot be conveyed through obsolete methods. His Eminence maintained that Islam is the religion of life and that the radical thought has occupied much of the Islamic vision in a short time that it has become generalized, thus giving the wrong impression about Islam as the religion of war and sword. Here, he called on the Muslim scholars to fulfill their obligations and stand in the face of such thought, inviting the Muslim scholars of Kurdistan to come and visit al-Najaf al-Ashraf and meet its great scholars and marjas.

For their part, the Muslim scholars of Kurdistan have deeply thanked Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim and the marjas, extending special thanks to al-Hakim family for having supported the Kurdish cause and prohibited the killing of Kurds, alluding to the fatwa of Imam Muhsin al-Hakim (may Allah sanctify his soul) prohibiting the fight against Kurds.